Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 8: The two-day National Conference on the theme “Climate Change and Sustainable Development: Perspectives and Transformational Challenges” organized by the Department of Law, University of Jammu in collaboration with Centre for Environmental Education, Research and Advocacy (CEERA), National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru, concluded today.
Professor Keshav Sharma, Dean Academic Affairs, JU, was chief guest at the valedictory function and he said that the area chosen by the Department of Law to be the theme of the conference was appropriate as he agreed that “Climate change is the defining human development challenge of the 21st century that represents the greatest existential threat to humankind and non-human nature.”
Others who spoke on the occasion, included Dean Students Placement, Prof Dipankar Sengupta. Dr Sanjay Gupta, Director Law School, opined that the papers presented by the students should be collected and published.
Prof Arvind Jasrotia, HoD Law Department, outlined his plans for the Department and alluded to the MoU that had been signed by the National Law School of India University Bangalore and the JU. He expressed satisfaction at the quality of papers presented at the conference which would be compiled and presented in the form of a volume. The vote of thanks was proposed by Dr Satinder of the Department of Law.
Earlier in the day, the proceeding had commenced with a brief talk by Dr Hippu Nathan of the National Institute of Advanced Studies Bangalore to the students of the Department of Law and The Law School. Dr Nathan spoke on the importance of Energy Studies as an area of research and its importance where climate change was concerned. Thereafter students presented papers on local and global issues regarding climate change, sustainable development and environment form the viewpoint of law and the constitution.
The issues covered included local problems like the pollution of the River Devika in Udhampur and the legal issues involved. Other issues analyzed included rising sea levels that threaten to submerge islands and create climate refugees. Six of the papers presented were chosen for cash prizes of Rs 2000 each.
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